<p align="left">
When I accidentally hopped into this hobby, I was still living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Naturally I considered myself lucky since there possibly 
could not be a better location in the US for this hobby. 2 good shops focused and dedicated for planted aquariums (one being a ADA distributor), a great 
local club (SFBAAPS), some very senior and knowledgable people around and lots of natural resources for the hobby on your "backyard".
</p>
<p align="left">
So when I moved to Chicago, that was definitely the major aspect of sunny California that I was missing. But luckily, my job still required me to travel 
to SF a couple of times a year. I would not have enough time to invest in the local hobby scene any further, but I always try to sneak out a few hours to
visit Aqua Forest Aquarium. It is not just about the plants and goods. I could order a lot of them online and get a large variety of the plants from hobby 
forums. But it is always better to touch, feel, see and try the hardscape material before buying any and online shopping just cannot beat that. I usually 
buy bagfuls every time I am there now-a-days (parts, rocks, wood, some plants etc.) but apart from that, the biggest attraction is to view Steven Lo's 
creations in person. The shop has an array of ADA and Do!Aqua tanks of all shapes and sizes set of display and carefully scaped and maintained by Steven. 
One can take lot of inspiration and ideas from them and Steven and others in the shop are very cordial and answers any questions you may have, whether it 
is about a product or about a aquascape on display. I have learned a lot over the years by carefully inspecting his works and talking to him about them.
</p>
<p align="left">
On my last trip to AFA in April 2011, I planned to capture the visit on camera and share it on my website. Steven happily agreed and allowed me to shoot 
around the shop. This trip was not timed well since the next ADA shipment was delayed due to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Many of the 
products were not available when I was there, but the shop still looked lively and vibrant. Looking at the pictures at home, I think I missed a few 
important areas, but I think I covered most of it, at least the parts of the shop where I spend most of the time anyways.
</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_steven_2.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Steven Lo beside his creations">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_steven_2.jpg' align='center' height='400px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">Steven Lo. besides some of his aquascapes on display in the store.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_front_display.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Main display tanks">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_front_display.jpg' align='center' height='400px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">Everything from lighting, tanks, cabinets to filters are ADA products. A mini ADA gallery. Several display tanks carefully aquascaped here. There are some nano tanks on display on the left side that I missed to photograph. May be 
next time.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_180p.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="180p main display tank">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_180p.jpg' align='center' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">The 180p main display tank. This is probably the 4th or 5th different layout I have seen in this tank. Now that I own a tank of comparable 
dimensions, the layout plans and considerations in this tank especially helped me to rethink some of my personal decisions and possibly win over some of the 
issues I am having in my setup.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_60p.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="60p display tank">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_60p.jpg' align='left' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_75p_high_1.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="75p (may be 90p) high display tank">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_75p_high_1.jpg' align='center' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_doaqua_cube_glass.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Do!Aqua Cube Glass on display">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_doaqua_cube_glass.jpg' align='right' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">Some of the other display tanks...</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_75p_high_2.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="75p (may be 90p) high display tank">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_75p_high_2.jpg' align='left' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_90h.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="90p (may be 75p) high display tank">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_90h.jpg' align='center' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_cube_garden.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Cube Garden on display">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_cube_garden.jpg' align='right' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">...and more. Some or the image titles have "may be(s)" since I did not note down and cannot exactly remember the tank dimensions.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_desk.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Front Desk">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_desk.jpg' align='center' height='400px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">The front desk and register.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_steven_1.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Steven Lo">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_steven_1.jpg' align='center' height='400px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">Another shot of Steven.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<p align="center">
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_plants_1.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Few plant tanks">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_plants_1.jpg' align='left' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_plants_2.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="More plant tanks and hardscape on sale">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_plants_2.jpg' align='center' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
<a href="../images/artifacts/events/afa_hardscape_1.jpg" rel="lytebox[algae]" title="Rocks and Woods">
	<img class="zoomable" src='../images/artifacts/events/afa_hardscape_1.jpg' align='right' height='200px' border="0">
</a>
</p>
<p align="center">This section is all the prime goods. 8 (may be 10) tanks full of plants for sale. Lots of woods and rocks on the back for sale.</p>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>